
A second major explosion has rocked an oil facility in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA) of Rivers State, less than 12 hours after a similar incident.
The blast occurred on Tuesday morning at a manifold connecting a federal pipeline in Okwawriwa, ONELGA, sending massive flames into the sky.
Eyewitnesses report that the affected facility transports petroleum products from Seplat, Agip, and Shell to ONELGA, parts of Imo State, and Brass in Bayelsa State. Fortunately, the site is far from residential areas, reducing the risk of casualties.
This latest explosion follows an earlier one at the Trans-Niger Pipeline, operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), which transports crude to the Bonny Terminal. The Bodo, Gokana LGA incident has already prompted a police investigation.
The Rivers State Police Command confirmed that two individuals are being questioned in connection with the Trans-Niger Pipeline explosion. While the exact causes of both incidents remain unknown, authorities are working to uncover the circumstances.
The back-to-back explosions have sparked concerns about their impact on the oil and gas industry, the environment, and local communities. Many suspect sabotage and are calling for a thorough investigation to determine the root cause and prevent future occurrences.